It is not unusual for the person losing an election to dispute the result and refuse to leave office, but the situation in our near neighbour - Papua New Guinea - is fast becoming serious. The country has two prime ministers and the validity of each seems to be beyond reproach. One enjoys the confidence of the parliament and the other has the support of the Supreme court.
Yesterday, Sir Michael Somare, the prime minister granted legal status by the Supreme court went to the residence of the Governor General to have his cabinet sworn in as required by law. He was met at the gates by a contingent of police - and refused entry.
Opposing Somare is the choice of the parliament, Peter O'Neill and obviously the country is dividing between these two men. The problem is that the men with the guns - the police and the army - can not have it both ways. There can only be one legitimate prime minister and the way things are heading it may not be too long before push turns to shove - and the guns start firing !
The Pacific Island communities used to be a peaceful place, but now we have a coup in Fiji and the head of the armed forces has set himself up as a dictator. The constitution has been suspended, and civil rights no longer exist. Australia has just completed a United Nations role in the Solomon islands, to counter an armed rebellion arising from a territorial dispute - and now the Papua New Guinea question awaits an answer.
This sort of problem is what the United Nations was created to solve. Theoretically, the Security Council has the authority to step in and make decisions when law and order breaks down in a member country, but such decisions are subject to world politics - and five members have the right of Veto to thwart the usual concept of the primacy of majority decisions.
Fortunately, the Pacific area nations are not play things in the chess game of world politics. The great powers did not become involved in the dispute that saw Indonesia retreat from East Timor and hopefully both Fiji and Papua New Guinea can be resolved peacefully. Perhaps it may involve a few " blue helmets " policing a return to democracy - but surely that is better than descent into civil war ?
Australia can expect the United Nations to look to this country if intervention is needed. Australia is seen as the major power in the lower Pacific area. At least - if we are acting under a United Nations mandate, we can not be accused of imperialistic designs or actions to interfere with our neighbours.
So far, Australia has a credible record of minding it's own business in the regional affairs of this part of the world !
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